Combined voice and facsimile system



May 2, 1950 E. F. WATSON 2,506,437

COMBINED VOICE AND FACSIMLE SYSTEM A 7` TOR/VE V May 2, i950 E. F. WATSON COMBINED VOICE AND FACSIMILE SYSTEM Filed June l, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2, 1950 E. F. wATsoN 2,506,437

COMBINED voICE AND FACSIMILE SYSTEM Filed June l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 L/NE A L//vE A L/NE A L//vE E F/G. .3 smnr/ sTAET/ sTART/ RELAV .94

OPERATED SPEECH SIGN/ILS COA/TAC TS /06 OPEN /CLOSED CONTACTS lOPEN f CLOSED m m n F/G. 6

RELAl s/ OPE/TED co/vTRoL To/JE AND P/cTuRE s/c/vALs RELEASED) OFF (0N n F/G. .7

HELAVS H8 AND /22 RELEASED OPERTED w E/G. a

CAM 74 AND FOLLOWER 75 PICTURE LINE FEED RELAY ld PICTURE .SIG/VAL RECORDED 0N /44 E/G. ,f/ sT/mr/ START/ START] s/GNAL /MPEEssED o/v MAG/VET /53 DISC/mp5@ 4F/G. /E sT/mT/ STA/QTj START/ Q OPERATED F/G '/J REMY m9 RELAY la@ mvo CLUTCH Amc/VET /M OPER'QTED F/G fRELEASE@ #VVE/V TOR E. E 'f/TSO/V 5V .f A T TOR/VE 1/ Patented May 2, 1950 COMBINED VNCE AND FACSIMILE SYSTEM Edward F. Watson, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Lancratcries, Incorporated, New ilaria, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appiication June l, 1946, Serial No. 673,749

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to communication systems and particularly to a combined telephone and picture transmission system.

An object of the invention is to interpolate picture signals on a telephone channel during silent intervals in speech transmission.

Another object of the invention is to control the transmission of picture signals in accordance with the presence or absence of speech, so that when speech is impressed on the channel the transmission of picture signals is suspended.

Another object of the invention is to scan each line of the picture repetitiously until the uninterrupted transmission of signals representing a full picture line has been accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to route the speech and picture signals to their respective receivers at a receiving station.

Another object of the invention is to record the received picture signals preparatory to transferring them to a picture reproducing device.

Another object of the invention is to delete received and recorded picture signals representing an interrupted line, and accordingly to apply to the picture reproducing device only signals representing complete uninterrupted lines.

The invention features a speech controlled switching device for disconnecting the picture transmitter from the communication channel.

The invention also features a speech delay element for aiording the speech controlled switching device time in which to disconnect the picture transmitter before speech is impressed on the communication channel.

The invention also features an arrangement for causing the picture transmitter to bey reconnected to the communication channel only at the beginning of the scanning of a line of the picture.

The invention also features a magnetic recorder for recording the picture signals at the receiving station.

The invention also features an arrangement for connecting the picture reproducing device to the pick-up magnet of the magnetic recorder only upon the recording of signals representing a complete line of the picture.

Another feature of the invention is that when two-Way telephone communication is carried on over separate paths, picture signals may be transmitted continuously over either path while speech signals are transmitted over the other path, since the participants in such telephone communica.- tion do not talk simultaneously, and one or the other of the paths is usually idle from the standpoint of speech transmission.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention the picture transmitter comprises a continuously rotating cylinder around which is wrapped a picture to be transmitted, and a scanner comprising a light source, an oscillator controlled shutter for chopping the light beam, an optical system for focussing a spot of light on the picture, a photoelectric cell responsive to light reflected from the picture, an ampliiier and a low-pass lter. Due to the rotation of the cylinder the picture is scanned in circumferential bands or lines. Advancement of the spot of light from line to line is controlled by the rotating cylinder and hy a switching mechanism which prevents advancement except upon the complete and uninterrupted transmission of signals representing a line.

The speech input apparatus includes a telephone transmitter, a delay network, a speech suppressor, an amplilier-rectier for speech signals, and switching mechanism controlled by the ampliiier-rectifier for disabling the suppressor and for disconnecting the picture transmitter from the communication channei. When speech is impressed on the speech transmitter the amplifier-rectifier responds to the speech current and disables the suppressor, thus permitting the speech current, delayed slightly by the delay network, to be transmitted. The ampliiier-rectiiier also operates relays to disconnect the picture transmitter from the communication channel. When speech currents cease to now, as at the end of a telephone conversation or during a pause therein, the suppressor is reactivated and the circuit is prepared for reconnecting the picture transmitter to the communication channel. Timing mechanism associated with the picture transmitter delays the reconnection until the scanning mechanism completes the scanning of the line then being scanned and begins the rescanning of the same line. If the picture transmitter remains connected to the communication channel long enough to transmit the signals representing the complete line, the scanning mechanism is advanced to the next line. However, if speech signais interrupt the scanning of the line the advancement of the scanning mechanism to the next line is suppressed.

During the intervals in which the picture transmitter is connected to the communication channel, the output of a control tone generator is also connected to the channel, so that the control tone is continuously transmitted. At the receiving station a rectifier responsive to this tene operates a switching relay to connect the communication channel to a picture receiver. When the control tone is absent telephone receiving equipment is connected to the channel.

Received picture signals are impressed upon the recording magnet of a magnetic recorder. This recorder is driven continuously and its pickup or reproducing magnet is spaced along the recording medium a sufficient distance from the recording magnet to record a full line of picture signals. The recording medium has a closed geometrical configuration and in passing from the reproducing magnet to the recording magnet, it passes an erasing magnet which deletes recorded signals from the medium.

The reproducing magnet is connected to alight shutter and operates this shutter in accordance with the picture signals. An optical system and a source of light are provided for focussing, under the variable control of the light shutter, a spot of light on a light sensitive paper or photographic film wrapped around a rotatable cylinder. The cylinder is arranged to be driven through a single revolution clutch so that each time the clutch is tripped the cylinder will be rotated one revolution. The clutch is arranged to be tripped only after signals representing a complete line have been recorded in the magnetic recorder. rlihe cylinder makes one revolution during the traversal of the reproducing magnet by a length of record medium occupied by a complete line of picture signals. Thus the recorded picture signais are transferred as light values to the sensitiaed sheet on the rotatable cylinder, thereby reproducing the picture. At the end of each revolution of the cylinder the optical system including the light source and light shutter is advanced one step in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable cylinder to bring a new line or band of the sensitized sheet into registry with the optical system preparatory to reproduction of the next set of picture values. When the transmission of picture signals is interrupted before a full line of signals has been recorded on the magnetic recorder, the clutch which drives the rotatable cylinder is not tripped and accordingly the cylinder remains stationary and the picture values represented by the incomplete line of signals are not reproduced. These partial lines of signals as well as complete lines are deleted by the erasing magnet so that the record medium as it'approaches the recording magnet is always in proper condition to record picture signals.

For a, complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic View showing a transmitting system for interpolated picture and telephone transmission;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a receiving system for interpolated picture and telephone signals; and

Figs. 3 to 14, inclusive are representative timing diagrams showing timing relationships within and between the transmitting and receiving systems.

With general reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the communication circuits have been represented by single conductive paths, for the sake of simplicity. Actually, of course, such paths would comprise two conductors. In the case of local control circuits, ground return paths have been indicated.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, the reference numeral Il designates a ,Y telephone instrument comprising transmitter and receiver which is connected by local circuit i2 to one branch of a hybrid coil i3. A second branch of the hybrid coil is connected by local circuit i@ to one branch of hybrid coil l which has a second branch connected by local circuit Il to the input of a delay network i8 and a third branch connected by local circuit i9 to the input of an amplifier-rectifier circuit 2|. The output of delay network i8 is connected by local circuit 22 to the input of suppressor 23.

Suppressor 23 is similar to any one of several shown in Fig. l of Patent 2,207,720, granted July 16, 1940, to I. E. Cole et al. and comprises two transformers, one having a, single input winding and a pair of output windings and the other having a pair of input windings and a single output winding. The two output windings of the input transformer are connected to the two input windings of the output transformer in criss-cross or igure-of-B arrangement so that these four windings are connected in series in a closed loop. The conductors which establish a criss-cross connection are interconnectable through the armature and front contact of a relay 2d. When relay 2t is released voltages impressed on the input winding of the input transformer develop mutual oppositions in the four interconnected windings and no voltage appears across the output winding of the output transformer. When relay 25 is operated the gure-ofconnection ls converted to a pair of straight link connections with one conductor common, and a direct transfer of voltage from the input winding of the input transformer through the link connections to the output winding of the output transformer occurs.

The output of suppressor 23 is connected by a local circuit 2S to one branch of a hybrid coil 21, a, second branch of which is connected by local circuit '28 to one branch of a hybrid coil 29. The latter coil has a second branch connected by local circuit 3l to a communication circuit which is represented by radio transmitter 32 and radio receiver 33.

1t will be understood that the communication channel could consist of or'include a metallic telephone circuit such as a local line or a toll line or a full metallic or carrier channel of a submarine cable and that it may pass through any number of switching centers and include any number of repeaters as required in accordance with conventional telephone practices. For eX- ample, the communication channel may be a carrier wave channel of a carrier system such as that disclosed in Patent 1,904,544, granted April 18, 1933, to J. W. Schmied. In such an arrangement the local communication path 3l described above might be connected to telephone conductors 26 of Fig. 2 of the Schmied patent through an added hybrid coil. In that case, instead of radio receiver 33 of Fig. 1 of the present specification, the receiving station might be connected through an added hybrid coil to telephone conductors 26 of Fig. 3 of the Schmied patent. Correspondingly, in substitution for radio transmitter |21 and radio receiver l't to be identified more'specifically hereinafter, the local communication circuits extending therefrom might be connected through the respective added hybrid coils to the telephone conductors 2t of Fig. 3 and Fig. 2, respectively, of the Schmied patent. The disclosure of the Schmied patent is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof as fully as if it had been included herein in its entirety. It is also to be noted that the transmission of interpolated speech and facsimile signals by single or double sideband principles is within the scope of the present invention. For deep-sea submarine cable transmission the local communication path 3| of the present system could be connected to a path such as L-IH of O. E. Buckley et al., Patent 2,020,297, dated November 12, 1935.

Relay 24 is connected to the output of amplifier-rectifier 2| and a relay 34 is also connected to the output of the amplifier-rectifier. Relay l24 preferably has slow-operate and slow-release characteristics, both of the order of 20 milliseconds and relay 34 preferably has a fast-operate and slow-release characteristic, the release time of this relay also being of the order of 20 milliseconds. Delay network I8 preferably has a uniform delay characteristic of the order of 20 milliseconds. The reason for these delays and the relationships among them will be described later'.

A. picture transmitting system is shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1. It includes a picture supporting cylinder 4| secured to shaft 42 which is continuously driven from motor 43 through gears t4, and an optical scanning mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 45. The optical scanning mechanism 46 comprises a stationary housing 47 having internal rails 48 upon which a carriage 49 is slidably supported. Carriage 49 contains two compartments, one of which contains a light source 5|, a focussing lens 52, a light beam chopper or shutter 53 and a focussing lens 5s which focusses a spot of light on cylinder 4|. The other compartment contains a photoelectric cell 5E and may also contain an amplifier 5i. Carriage 49 is provided with an aperture 58 to accommodate passage of a beam of light from source 5| to the surface of cylinder 4| and of reflected light from the cylinder to photoelectric cell 55 and housing 4l is provided with a registering slot 59 of sufficient length that the spot of light focussed on cylinder 4| may traverse the cylinder from end to end.

A rotatable rod 66 is journaled in housing 41 at the opposite ends thereof and is threaded for a substantial portion of its length. Carriage 49 has attached thereto a nut 6l which is preferably split to afford easy disengagement from the threaded portion of rod t5. Rod 5B has secured thereto exteriorly of the housing 4l a ratchet 58. A pawl lever lli?, which carries intermediate its ends an operating pawl 69 for ratchet B8, is pivoted at one end on rod Se and is connected at its other end by link 'll to a lever 'l2 pivoted at '|3. Lever 'i2 carries at one end a cam follower 'l5 which engages a cam 14 secured to shaft 42. A spring 'i6 urges the cam follower into engagement with cam 14. Each time that the cam follower is permitted to enter the recess in cam 'M lever 'F0 is rocked counter-clockwise and advances ratchet 68 a distance of one tooth in counter-clockwise direction. A check pawl 'll holds ratchet S8 in the position to which it has been advanced and as the cam follower rises out of the depression in cam 14, pawl 69 is moved in clockwise direction along ratchet 99 to pick up the next tooth. The counter-clockwise rotation imparted to ratchet 68 by pawl 69 causes carriage 49 to move rightwardly, a spot of light focussed on cylinder 4| being moved along the cylinder toward the right parallel to the axis.

A picture that is to be transmitted is wrapped around cylinder 4| and is secured thereto by a clamping bar 8| the surface of which is divided longitudinally into a dark or black portion 82 and a light or white portion 83. Light shutter 53 is operated in vibratory manner by a signal generator or oscillator 84. The frequency of this is preferably within the voice range so that picture signals generated by the light beam will be of a character adapted to be transmitted over conventional telephone circuits or to modulate a radio frequency carrier within the radio transmitter 32 and to be detected within the radio receiver 33. As the picture supported by cylinder 4| is rotated the dark portion of clamping bar 82 absorbs substantially all of the incident light, the light portion of clamping bar 83 reflects substantially all of the incident light and the picture refiects variable intensities of light in accordance with the shading of the picture. Photoelectric cell 56 responds to the Varying light Values refiected from clamping bar 8| and the picture and generates modulated oscillatory current which is a function of the picture frequency generator 3l?- and the shading values of the clamping bar and picture. The output of amplifier 51 is connected by local circuit 86 to amplifier B'l, the output of which is connected through local circuit i8 and low-pass filter 89 to the back contact associated with the inner right-hand armature cf relay 9 i. The inner right-hand armature of relay ei is connected by local circuit 92 to the third branch of hybrid coil 2'! through which the picture signals may be impressed on the radio transmitter in the same way as the speech signals are impressed on the transmitter.

The control tone generator 93 which generates a tone outside the speech frequency band and also outside the picture frequency band is connected to a compressor 94, the output of which is connected to the back contact associated with the outer right-hand armature of relay 9 i. The outer right-hand armature of relay 9| is connected by local circuit 9'! to a third branch of hybrid coil 29 through which the control tone is impressed upon the radio transmitter.

When relay 9| is in the unoperated condition, the output of the picture transmitter and the output of the control tone oscillator are connected to the radio transmitter' and with the picture mounted on cylinder Il! and the cylinder being driven by motor 43, picture signa-ls will be transmitted. Relay 9! is energizable in a circuit from ground through. the winding of the relay, conductor l`| and locking stop key |92 to battery 593. When this key is closed and relay 9| is energized, the output of the picture transmitter will be disconnected from hybrid coil 21 at the inner right-hand armature and back contact of the relay and the output of the control tone generator 93 will be disconnected from hybrid coil 2e at the back contact and outerl right-hand armature of the relay. An energizing circuit for relay 9| is also traced from ground through the winding of the relay, conductors liil and ill-i, contacts |96, conductor ici and front contact and armature of relay Sii tc battery |98. Contacts |96 are normally closed and are opened momentarily once per revolution of picture cylinder` 4i by cam l 99 secured to shaft 42. Relay 3c is energized when speech signals are generated by telephone instrument ii and are impressed on amplifier-rectifier 2|. Relay 9| will be operated immediately upon the operation of relay 34 except for the possibility that contacts 09 may be open at the time of engagement of the front contact of relay 34 by its armature and may accordingly delay the energization of relay 9|.

When relay. 9| is operated toY suspend the transmission oi'p'icture signals a holding circuit for therelay is established through the inner left-hand armature andY front contact of the; relay, conductor |95, contacts IIi' to battery H5, with a parallel holding circuit Il@ from conductor IE5, contacts of relay 3Q to battery |68. Contacts `I I lare normally closed and are opened momentarily once per revolution of picture cylinder il by cam I l2 secured to shaft 2. At its outer left-hand armature and front Contact the` relay SIY .completes a circuit l from battery IIS through the noted armature and front contact of relay 9|, conductor lI'I and winding of slowrelease relay iis to ground. Relay I It, upon being energized under the control of relay 9| completes a circuit from battery l i9, the front contact and varmature of relay M8, conductor I2| vand winding of electromagnet |22 to ground. The armature ofelectromagnet |22 serves as a latch forV lever I 2 to prevent the cam follower I5 carried by the lever rom entering the depression in cam le. As long as electromagnet |22 is energized and latches lever 'I2 in its clockwise position, the cyclic operation of ratchet 68 is suppressed and accordingly the advancement of the picture scanning beam from line to line of the picture is suppressed.

It will be assumed that relays 2li, 3:1, 9! and I'I and magnet i22 are energized due to the transmission of speech signals from instrument l I, that a pause occurs in these signals, and that the picture scanning mechanism is partly through the scanning oi a line (the rst representation of line A in Fig. 3) so that the cam follower on lever 72 is engaging the high portion of cam lil,

as represented in Fig. 9. Relays 3a and 2e rev lease after about 20 milliseconds to permit, before activating suppressor 23, the transmission of the last of the speech signals through delay network IS and into the radio transmitter. The release of relay Se does not result in the immediate release of relay SI. because the latter relay is held energized over its holding circuit. Within the interval during which the dark portion 82 of clamping bar 8| passes under the light beam, contacts I @e and III open and reclosepthe sequence being opening or contacts Iil, opening of contacts lll, contacts |36 reclosed and contacts I I l reclosed, as represented in Figs. 5 and 6.

cation channel (represented by radio transmitter 32), disabling its holding circuit and interrupting the energizing circuit for relay i I8. The latter relay has a slow-release characteristic and does not release until after contacts HB5 and I'II have reclosed, the light portion 83 of clamping bar SI has passed the spot of light and the depression in cam le has moved out of range of the cam follower carried by lever l2, all as indicated in Fig. 8. When relay H8 releases it releases the electromagnet |22 and the latch for lever 'l2 is retracted. However, at the time of release of electromagnet |22 the cam follower 'i5 carried by lever l2 is engaging the high portion of cam lll, sc that the scanning mechanism rescans the line of the picture which it had been scanning at the time of cessation of speech signals. The signal transmitted under the control of the light portion63 of clamping bar 8l represents a start signal and the control effected by this signal in the receiving mechanism will be described later.

If speech transmission should be 7resumed before the scanning of the line is completed, relay 34 willbe operated immediately in response to the speech signals, as indicated in Fig. 4, and assuming that contacts |06 are closed, which will be their` condition if the scanning of the line is not completed and the dark portion 82 of clamping bar 3| has not yet reached the spot of light, relay 9| will be reoperated to disconnect the picture signals and the control tone signals from the communication channel, to reestablish its locking circuit and to reenergize relay ||8 which immediately reoperates electromagnet |22 which again blocks lever l2. Thereafter, upon the passage of the depression in cam 'It beneath the cam followerrcarried by lever 12, the cam follower will be Withheld from entrance into the depression and the advancement of carriage 49 toward the right-for the scanning of the next line or band of the picture will be prevented. Due to the slowoperate characteristic of relay 24, the conditioning of suppressor 23 to transmit speed signals will be delayed by an interval of approximately 20 milliseconds but the delay network I8 delays the transmission of the speech signal into the suppressor to the same extent, so that ample time is allotted for suspending the transmission of picture signals and none of the speech signals is lost.

Under the circumstance that speech signals do not interrupt the transmission of the picture signals,` as indicated by Fig. 4 relative to the second complete line A in Fig. 3, and that the transmission of signals representing the complete line is accomplished, the cam follower carried by lever i2 remains in engagement with the surface of the cam and as thedark portion 82 of clamping bar 3| passes under the spot of light the cam follower 'l5 carried by lever 'I2 enters the depression in cam 14, rocking lever 'i2 counter-clockwise and rotating ratchet SS one step counter-clockwise to move carriage 49 rightwardly. Contacts |06 and i I open and reclose without producing any change in the circuit conditions, since relays 34 and 9| are assumed to have remained released. The transmission of picture signals representing the new line or band will thereupon proceed following the transmission of a start signal as the light portion 83 of clamping bar 8| traverses the spot of light. Ifl speech signals interrupt the transmission of signals representing this line of the picture (represented by the line B in Fig. 3), the electromagnet |22 will prevent the rightward movement of carriage le at the completion of a revolution of cylinder 4| and the scanning of the line will occur repetitiously until the signals representing the,V

line have been transmitted without interruption.

The purpose of contacts III is to assure that the picture transmitter, after having been disconnected from the communication channel, shall be reconnected only at the beginning of the scanning of a line and speccally just before the light portion 83 of clamping bar 8| is scanned. The purpose of contacts IDS is to assure the advancementof carriage 49 one step rightwardly in the event that the reappearance of speech signals to be transmitted occurs just as the transmission of signals representing a complete line of the picture is eiected. The intent of the arrangement is that if relay 9| has nct operated before contacts |36 open, the transmission of the picture line is judged to be complete and relay 9| cannot then operate until a short time later when contact lilE recloses. This interval provides a margin of adjustment for-electromagnet |22 and its latch with associatedarm 12, roller 'I5 and cam 14, so that 9 these parts can be adjusted to meet the necessary requirements. These are: (1) if relay 9| has operated before contacts |96 open, magnet |22 must operate and latch feed lever 12 so it cannotoperate; (2) if relay 9| remains unoperated until v after contact |06 reclosesyfeed lever 12 must be left unlatched until after roller 15 has dropped suiciently into the indent in cam 14 to assure a feeding operation. These adjustments will assure feeding after any completed line and omission of feeding after any incomplete line.

Fig. 2 shows a receiving Asystem adapted to receive the interpolated speech and picture signals from a transmitting station of the type shown in Fig. 1. Specifically, Fig. 2 shows the receiving portion of the station of which the transmitting portion is shown in Fig. 1. The radio receiver on .which signals are received is designated by the reference numeral |26 and this radio receiver may receive'signals from any radio transmitter such as transmitter |21. It will be understood that radio receiver |26 must receive on a different carrier frequency than that transmitted by radio transmitter 32, otherwise the station would re ceive its own signals. The radio transmitter |21 would probably be located at the station having radio receiver 33, particularly if the telephone transmission is a conversation involving two-way transmission. Radio receiver |26, which may include the conventional selecting, amplifying and detecting equipment is connected by local circuit |28 to one branch of a hybrid coil |29. A local circuit |3| extends from a second branch of hybrid coil |29 to a control tone filter |32 having- Ythe necessary circuit constants to pass the control tone which accompanies picture signals and to reject picture signals and speech signals. The third branch of hybrid coil |29 is connected by local circuit |33 to the left-hand armature of a relay |34. The output of control tone filter |32 is connected to a rectifier |36 and the outputv of this rectifier is connected by local circuit |31 to the winding of relay 34. From this it will be apparent that when the control tone signal is received, relay |34 will be energized, Whereas when the control tone signal is not received, relay 34 will be released. The back contact associated with rthe left-hand armature of relay |34 is connected by local circuit |38 to low-pass filter |39 and the output of this lter is connected to the third branch of hybrid coil I3 for impressing received telephone signals on the telephone instrument I.

The front contact associated with the left-hand armatureof relay |34 is connected to a lter |4| adapted tc pass the picture signals, and the outvputof this lter is connected to an amplier |42, the output of which is connected to recording magnet |43 of amagnetic recorder. The recording rmedium is a steel wire or band |44 carried byr ywheel |46. Wheel |46 is secured to shaft |41 which is driven through gears |48 from shaft |49. Shaft |49 is continuously driven through gears from motor |52.

Vspaced along the periphery of Wheel |46 in the i direction of rotation a distance sufficient to accommodate signals representing a little less than a complete picture line (for reasons which will be set forth hereinafter), is a reproducing or pickup magnet |53. Positioned between reproducing magnet |53 and recording magnet |43 in the same direction is an erasing magnet |54 for erasing signals after they have traversed reproducing magnet |53, to prepare the recording medium |44 to receive incoming signals from the recording magnet 43. Erasing magnet |54 may be energized by direct current or by high frequency alternating current in accordance with conventional practices employed in erasing signals from magnetic storage tapes or wires.

.Reproducing magnet |53 is connected to an amplifier |56, the output of which is connected by localcircuit |51 to light shutter |58. Light shutter |58 is part of an optical system including light source |59 and focussing lenses |6| and |62 supported in a carriage |63 movable within a housing |64 by rotatable threaded rod |66and split nut |65, the structure being similar to the scanning apparatus in Fig. 1. A sensitized sheet |61 is wrapped around cylinder |68 and is secured thereto by clamping bar |69. Cylinder |68 is secured to a sleeve 1| supported by rotatable shaft |49. Sleeve |1| also has secured thereto the driven disc |12 of a friction clutch which has its driving disc |13 secured to shaft |49. A cam |14 similar to cam 14 in Fig. 1 is secured to sleeve |1| and is engaged by a cam follower carried by a pivoted lever |16. Lever |16 is connected by link |11 to a lever |18 pivoted on threaded rod |66 and carrying a feed pawl |19 engageable with a ratchet |8| secured to rod 66. A check pawl |82 engages ratchet |8| and serves to hold the lholding engagement with clutch disc |12 and when the clutch magnet is energized, sleeve |1| and cylinder |68 and cam |14 which it supports are released for rotation. If clutch magnet |84 is released before the cylinder |68 completes one revolution, the cylinder will be arrested and limited to exactly one revolution and carriage |63 will lbe moved one picture line distance rightwardly incident to each revolution of the cylinder. The gear ratio between shaft |49 and shaft |41 is such that one revolution of cylinder |68 is accompanied by rotation of wheel |46 through the angle between recording magnet |43 and reproducing magnet |53', measured in counterclockwise direction, which is the direction of rotation of wheel |46 from recording magnet |43.

The output of amplifier |56 is also connected to a rectier |86 which is connected by a local circuit |81 to the outer right-hand armature of relay |34. The front contact which this armature engages when relay |34 is energized in response to reception of the control tone signal is conneced through the winding of relay |88 to the inner right-hand armature of relay |34. The front contact associated with this armature is connected to the back contact of the left-hand armature of relay |89 and the armature is connected to ground.

It will be assumed that picture signals are being received by recording magnet |43 and recorded on magnetic medium |44, as indicated in Fig. 11, the .picture line having just begun. The line begins with the start signal which is of full amplitude vbecause it is generated by the light portion 83 Aenergizable from rectier |86-in f magnet I9| is energized. v

relay |89.

11 s. d series Vwith an electromagnet |9I through the back contact-.at

the outer right-hand armature of relay. |34 but there is assumed to have been no output from rectifier |88 Vprior to the energization of relay |34,`

so Vthat neither the relay |89-nor the electro- It will now be assumed that the picture signals are interrupted before the transmission of a complete line of signals has been accomplished. .-1 The interruption of picture signals is accom- Vpanied by the interruption of the control tone-sig- Y nals so'vthat relay` |34 releases, as indicated in Fig 10 extending theeutput of hybrid. coil |29 to local circuit |38, low-pass lter |39 and hybrid y coil |3.to telephone instrument for the reception of s-peech signals. Wheel |48contin'ues to ,7. .rotate withoutrecording further signals and prei Lsents the start impulse o f the partially recorded ...line of` signals to reproducing magnet |53 about the time indicated in Fig. 1,2. The start signal is amplied by amplifier |58 and is rected by Y rectifier |88 to cause current to ow in a circuit through conductor |81, the outer right-hand armature and back contact of relay |34, conductor |92, winding of electromagnet |9I, conductor `.|93 and operating winding of relay |89 to ground,

V and relay |89 and electromagnet I9! are operd. ated, the operation of relay |89 being indicated Ain, Fig.1l3. The armature of electromagnet |9| serves as'the stop lever for a cam |94 which is i mounted on shaft |49 and is rotatable therewith through a friction clutch |98 whenreleased by l the armature of electromagnet |9| upon the energization of the magnet. The armature of e1ec' tromagnet ISI also closes contacts |91 completing a circuit from battery |98 through the contacts,

ture of electromagnet |9|Will not be held by the electromagnet after the recorded signals of the rincomplete linehave passed pick-up magnet |58,

Y this armature will engage the periphery of cam |94 and move to its unoperated position to arrest the cam and permit contacts |91 to open.

With relay |34 released, the operating circuit for relay |88 was interrupted at several points at the time that pick-up magnet responded to the start signal so that this relay did not respond to this signal of the incomplete line of picture I signals and it remains released, even though there should occur in the picture signals themselves a signal of the sameV character and value as the start signal at least throughout the entire interval. during which relay |89 is locked in the energized condition, This condition isindicated in 'd Fig.l4. Relayv |88controls the operating circuit of clutch magnet |84 for the picture recorder through its front contact and right-hand armature. Thus relay y|88 and clutch magnet |84 'remain releasedwhile the start signal and the incomplete line'of picture signals traverse reprof'ducing magnet |53, so that none of the signals contained in the incompleteline is permitted to affect sensitized sheet |61 carried by cylinder |58. In the rest position of cylinder |88 the light beam impinges upon clamping bar- |69, so that although the picture signals are always applied to light lvalve |58 over local circuit |51, the sensitized sheet is not affected. As the signals recorded on magnetic .medium |44 traverse erasingmagnet |54, they are erased from the recording medium. The erasure of the incomplete lineof recorded .signals does not result in the lossof these signals nalsrepresenting that line have been transmitted without interruption.

The relay |34 cannot reoperate until after all of the signals representingthe incomplete ,line and the section of the magnetic medium |44 which `the 4missing. signals .would occupy have .transversed reproducing, magnetv |58. q The reason for this is that relay .9| in Fig. lis releasable to reconnect the picture'signaltransmitter and Ythe control tone generatortothe communication channel only at thev beginning of a picture line and specifically just rbefore the generation of the ,start signal. VVThus relay |84 will not normally reoperate and prepare the energizing circuit for relay |88 while the signals of an incomplete line are traversing reproducing magnet |53. However, in case it should be accidentally reoperated by radio interference, the relay |88 could not be operated to complete the circuit of clutch magnet |88 because relay |89 is held energized through contacts |9'|, and the ground connection required for'energizing relay |88 is disconnected at the left-hand armature and back contact of relay |89.

As soon as a pause in speech transmission causes the resumptiony of picture signal transmission, the control tone operates relay |34 and the picture signals are recorded on magnetic medium |44 beginning with the start signal. As in the case of the previously described picture signal receiving cycle, only the relay |34 is operated, the relays |88 and |89, and theelectromagnets |84 and |9| remaining deenergized.

' The exception to this is that if the speech interval has been very brief, so that an incomplete line is traversing reproducing magnet |53 during the recording of the next received group of picture signals on recording medium |44, relay |89 will be locked in operated condition, as indicated in Fig. 13. It will be assumed that at least one full line of picture-signals is received and recorded on recording medium |44. Accordingly, when the start signal is picked up by reproducing magnet |58 and develops a voltage in the output of rectier |88, the circuit of relay |88, being prepared through to the rectiiier by relay |34, is completed by the release of relay |89 and the relay |88 operates, in turn operating clutch magnet |84 to cause cylinder |58 to be rotated to record the picture line. At its left-hand armature and front contact, relay |88 establishes a holding circuit I for itself from battery 29| through the winding |53, the carriage |83'being advanced one step rightwardly for each revolution of cylinder |68. The clamping bar |69 of cylinder |88 passes under the light beam as the start impulse of each line is reproduced by magnet |53 so that this signal is not recorded on the sensitized sheet li carried by cylinder |68.

Upon any interruption of the control tone, relay |34 will be released thus interrupting the holding circuit of relay |88 which releases and in turn releases clutch magnet |84. Thereupon the hook on clutch member |83 will be presented in the path of the shoulder on clutch disc |12 and cylinder |68 will be arrested with clamping bar |69 presented under the iight beam. As wheel |45 continues to rotate, the start signal of the line of picture signals which was interrupted will be presented to reproducing magnet |53 and because relay |34 is released, rectiiier |86, responding to the start signal will complete the energizing circuit of magnet |3| and relay |89, thus preventing, due to the locking of relay |89 and magnet |9| for substantially one revolution of cam |94, the renergization of relay |88 in the event that relay |34 reoperates in the meantime, until a length of the recording medium |44 adapted to accommodate a full line of picture signals and including the incomplete line of signals has traversed magnet |53.

The reason that reproducing magnet |53 must be spaced along the periphery of wheel |45 from recording magnet |43 a distance slightly less than that which will accommodate a full line of picture signals from one start signal to the next will now be considered, reference being made to Figs. 5, 6, 7, l and 12. The test as to whether or not a received line of picture signals is to be recorded on sensitized sheet |61 must be made during an interval in which the control tone, if on, cannot be cut off to effect the release of relay |34, and if off, cannot be put on the transmission channel to operate relay |34. Such an interval occurs beginning with the opening of contacts |06, which will prevent the operation of relay 9| if relay 34 should then become operated, and ending with the release of relay 9| in response to the opening of contacts if relay 34 should be unoperated at that time. Accordingly, the start signal must be presented to reproducing magnet |53 about the time that contacts |06 open. This coincides substantially with the time that the dark portion of clamping bar 8| in Fig. l begins to pass under the light beam. It should not lbe earlier than the opening of contacts |06, nor later than the release or relay 9| by contacts Fig. 12 shows the approximately correct relation of the presentation of the start signals to reproducing magnet |33 relative` to the opening of contacts |06 as represented in Fig. 5, the opening of contacts as represented in Fig. 6, the release of relay 9| as represented in Fig. '7 and the consequential release of relay |34 as represented in Fig. l0. It will be seen that the periphery of wheel |41 between magnets |43 and |53 lacks by approximately the extent of the blank signal corresponding to the dark portion of clamping bar 8| the capacity to store a complete line from start signal to start signal.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the test of whether or not picture values corresponding to signals contained on recording medium |44 shall be recorded on sensitized sheet |67 is made at the time the start impulse.` of a line is presented to reproducing magnet 53 and the determining factor is the condition of relay |34, dependent upon the presence or absence of the control tone. It will be remembered that if the control tone signal accompanying line of picture signals is not cut off by the energization of relay 9| in Fig. 1 before contacts |96. are opened, it cannot be cut off until these contacts have been reclosed under the control of cam |99. Even if relay 34 should be operated while contacts |96 are open, so that the energizing circuit for relay 9| is completed upon the reclosure of contacts IDS, and even though relay 9| is not intentionally provided with a slow operating characteristie, nevertheless there may be a measurable instant between the completion of the energizing circuit of relay el and the disengagement of the right-hand armatures from their back contacts. This timing relationship assures that if signals representing a full picture line have been transmitted and recorded on recording medium |44, the transmission of the control tone signal shall continue and overlap the energization of reproducing magnet |53 by the start signal at the beginning of the complet-ely transmitted line of picture signals, thereby keeping relay |34 operatedv until relay |88 shall have become operated and its holding circuit established. With this arrangement any completely transmitted line of picture values will be recorded on sensitized sheet |61 and any partially transmitted line of picture signals will be deleted.

The transmission of picture signals may be suspended when the scanning mechanism has completed the scanning of a picture and the transmission of the signals representative thereof, or the transmission of picture signals may be suspended at any time as desired .by the closure of locking key |92. This key comple-tes the energizing circuit of relay 9| from battery |93 and the relay is held energized as long as the key remains closed. Under these circumstances no picture or control. signals will be impressed upon the communication channel during the pauses in telephone transmission and the relay |34 in Fig. 2 will remain re-leased, maintaining the telephone instrument at the receiving station connected to the communication channel.

The carriages 49 and |63 of the picture signa-1 transmitter and picture reproducer respectively may be restored to their starting positions by disengaging split nuts 5l and |65 from threaded rods 66 and |66, respectively. When these nuts have been disengaged from the threaded rods, springs 65 and i6@ will restore the carriages 49 and |63, respectively to their extreme left-hand positions whereupon the split nuts 57 and |65 may be reengaged with the threaded rods for transmission of another picture.

Certain modications are within the contemplation of the invention. For example, the relay 9|, instead of directly opening and closing the path from the picture transmitter to hybrid coil 2 and the path from the control tone signal generator 93 to hybrid coil 29 may instead control suppressors similar to the suppressor 23, one of which would be connected between low-pass filter 39 and hybrid coil 2 and the other would be connected between compressor 94 and hybrid coil 29.

Although the operation of the system has been described upon the basis of reception by the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, of signals transmitted from the station shown in Fis'. l, it was Ipreviously stated that Figs. l and 2 represent transmitting and receiving .portions respectively of a single station and that there would 'be no occasion for the transmitter in Fig. 1 to transmit speech and picture signals to the receiving apparatus of the same station. Thus when reference was made during the description oi" the operation of Fig. 2 to elements or features in Fig. 1 as controlling the receiving operation of the apparatus in Fig. 2, such references were for convenience only and were applicable instead to a station like that shown in Fig. 1 butassociated with radio transmitter {21,01} any other radio transmitter man the transmitter 32, Vfrom which the station shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to receive speech and K picture signals.

Although a speciiic embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the drawings and departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. In a communication system, a speech transitter, a storage transmitter adapted to scan l, visual intelligence continuously in discrete increments and to generate signal groups corresponding to said increments, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel, speech signal detecting means for subordi- `nating transmission of said visual intelligence signals to transmission' of speech, and repeat yscanning means for causing the retransmission" of any group of said visual intelligence signals interrupted by speech transmission.

' 2. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to scan visual intelligence continuously in discrete increments and to generate signal groups corresponding to said increments, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output or `said speech transmitter or the output oi said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel', means responsive to speech signals for operating said. switching means to disconnect said storage transmitter from said channel whereby said visual intelligence signals are transmitted over said'channel only during intervals of absence ci speech, and repeat scanning means ior causing the retransmission of any group oi said `visual intelligence signals interrupted by speech transmission until said group has been transmitted in its entirety without interruption.

3. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to scan visual intelligence continuously in discrete increments and to generate signal groups correspond- Aing to said increments, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter r the output oi said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel, means responsive to speech signals for operating said switching means to disconnect said storage transmitter from said channel whereby said visual intelligence signals are transmitted over said channel only during intervals of absence of speech, and repeat scanning means for causing retransmission from the beginning of any group visual intelligence continuously in discrete increments and to generate signal groups corresponding to said increments, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said facsimile ytransmitter to be impressed on said channel,

speech signal detecting means for subordinating transmission of said visual intelligence to transmission of speech, and means for causing new 'discrete increments oi said visual intelligence to Cte 'scanned amy upon the" uninterrupted trans- Imission of a complete signal group.

`5. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a facsimile transmitter adapted to scan VVvisual intelligence in discrete increments and to generate signal groups occupying equal time in- "tervals, a communication channel, means for causing the output oi said speech transmitter or the output of said facsimile transmitter to be impressed on said channel, means responsive to momentary intervals of silence of said speech transmitter for connecting said facsimile transmitter to said channel andresponsive to resumption of speech for disconnecting said facsimile transmitter from said channel, and means for `causing repetitions generation oi any group of "speech transmitter or the output of said picture transmitter to be impressed on said channel, means responsive to silent intervals of said speech transmitter occurring as idle intervals or as pauses during speech communication for connecting said Vpicture transmitter to said channel, and means for delaying vthe Yscanning of any line of said picture until the occurrence of uninterrupted transmission of signals representing the precedinglme in its entirety.

7. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a facsimile transmitter adapted to scan visual intelligence continuously in increments and to generate signai groups corresponding to said increments, a communication channel, means for causing the output oi said speech transmitter or the output oi said facsimile transmitter to be impressed on said channel, means responsive to silent intervals of said speech transmitter occurring as idle intervals or pauses during speech communication for connecting said facsimile transmitter to said channel, and means for delaying the connection of said facsimile transmitter to said channel until the beginning of a signal group.

8. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to generate other intelligence signals in discrete groups, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel, speech signal detecting means for subordinating transmission of said other intelligence signals to transmission or speech whereby interruption of any discrete group of said other intelligence signals may occur, a speech receiver, means for provisionally recording said other intelligence signals, means for connecting said speech receiver or said recording means to said channel, means for producing from said provisionally recorded signals a visual record of the intelligence represented thereby, and means for precluding the production of a visual record corresponding to an incompletely recorded group of said provisionally recorded signals.

9. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a'storage transmitter adapted to generate other intelligence signals in discrete groups, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech asomar transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel, speech signalV detectingmeans for subordinating transmission of said other intelligence signals to transmission of speech whereby interruption of any discrete group of said other intelligence signals may occur, means for transmitting a controlsignal concurrently with said other intelligence signals, a speech receiver, means for provisionally recording said other intelligence signals, means responsive to absence or presence of said control signal for connecting said speech receiver or said recording means to said channel, means for producing from said provisionally recorded signals a visual record of the intelligence represented thereby, and means for precluding the production of a visual record corresponding to an incompletely recorded group of said provisionally. recorded signals.

10. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to transmit other intelligence signals in discrete groups including a start signal preceding each group,r a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter to 'be impressed on said channel, speech signal detecting means for subordinating transmission of said other intelligence signals to transmission of speech whereby interruption of any discrete group of said other intelligence signals may occur, means for transmitting a control signal concurrently with said other intelligence signals, a speech receiver, means for provisionally recording said other intelligence signals, means responsive to absence or presence of said control signal for connecting said speech receiver or said recording means to said channel, means for producing from said provisionally recorded signals a visual record corresponding to said other intelligence signals, and means effective under concurrent control of saidv control signal and said start signal for activating said visual record producing means.

11. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to generate other intelligence signals in discrete groups occupying equal time intervals and including a start signal preceding each group, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter to be impressed on said channel, speech signal detecting means for subordinating transmission of said other intelligence signals to transmission of speech whereby interruption of any discrete group of said other intelligence signals may occur, a, speech receiver, means for provisionally recording said other intelligence signals, means for connecting said speech receiver or said recording means to said channel, means for producing from said provisionally recorded signals a visual record of the intelligence represented thereby, means for activating said visual record producing means, and means responsive to the start signal of an incomplete group of said other intelligence signals for precluding operation of said activating means for at least one of said time intervals.

12. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a storage transmitter adapted to generate other intelligence signals in discrete groups, a communication channel, switching means for causing the output of said speech transmitter or the output of said storage transmitter tobe impressed on saidchannel, speech-v signal detecting means for subordinating trans--v mission of said other intelligence signals toi transmission of speech whereby interruption of any discrete group of said other intelligence signals may occur, a speech receiver, means forprovisionally recording said other intelligence signals, means for reproducing said other intelligence signals in the same form and orderas 10 recorded, means for producing a visual recordoi the intelligence represented by said reproduced signals, meansfor precluding the production oi! a visual record corresponding to an interrupted group of said other intelligence signals, and

thereof.

13. In a communication system, means for' receiving said signals, means operable in start-- stop manner for producing a visual record of picture values corresponding to said picture value signals, and means controlled jointly by said start signals and said control tone signal for starting said visual record producing means.

14. In a communication system, a picture transmitter, a speech transmitter, a communication channel common to said transmitters, means for scanning a picture line by line, means for transmitting scanning signals on said channel, means resposive to speech for interrupting transmission of said scanning signals at any instant, and means for automatically repeating the scanned signals for any scanning line in the event of interruption of transmission of said scanning signals before completion of transmission of said line.

15. In a communication system, a speech transmitter, a picture transmitter, a picture recorder, a speech receiver, a communication channel common to said transmitters, recorder and receiver, means for scanning a picture line by line, means for transmitting scanning signals on said channel, means responsive to speech for interrupting transmission of said scanning signals at any instant, and means for precluding the recording by said picture recorder of a partial line in the event of interruption of transmission of said scanning signals before completion of transmission of said line.

16. In a communication system, a picture transmitter, a speech transmitter, a communication channel common to said transmitters, means for scanning a picture in lines, means for transmitting scanning signals on said channel, means responsive to speech for interrupting transmission of said scanning signals at any instant, means for advancing the scanning means to the next line upon completion of the scanning of a line, and means controlled by said interrupting means in the event of interruption of transmission of said scanning signals before completion of transmission of a line for precluding operation of said advancing means.

17. In a picture transmission system, a picture transmitter including means for1 continuously scanning a picture in increments having definite beginnings and endings, a transmission channel,

means for connecting said transmitter to said means for erasing the record of said other intelligence signals following the reproduction channel, meansoperable at random. relative to said scanning means for preparingV said con.-

said connecting means only ,Y at a time irrime-v diately preceding the beginning of an increment.

18. In a communication system, a picture transmitter, a speech transmitter, a communication channel common to said transmitters, means for scanning apicture line by line, means for transmitting scanning signals onsaid channel, means responsive to speech for interrupting transmission of said scanning signals at any instant, a magnetic recorder adapted to provisionally record sai d scanning signals as received over said channel, a picture reproducer adapted to reproduce a picture line by line from said provisionally recorded signals, and means for precluding operation Vof said reproducer in response to signals ci' an interrupted scanning line. v

19. In a communication system, a picture transmitter, a speech transmitter, a communication channel common to said transmitters, means for scanning a picture line by line, means for transmitting scanning signals on said channel, means responsive to speech for interrupting transmission of said scanning signals at any instant, a magnetic recorder adapted to provisionally record said scanning signals as received over said channel, a picture reproducer adapted to reproduce a picture line by line from said provisionally recorded signals, means for precluding operation of said reproducer in re-v spense to signals of an interrupted scanning line, and means for automatically repeating the scanned signals of any scanning line in the event of interruption of transmission of said scanning signals before completion of transmission of said line.

Y EDWARD F. WATSON.

REFERENCES orrED file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,771,8,20 Rtcheouloi July 29, 1 930 1,852,727 Horst Apr. 5, 1932 2,075,898 Horton Apr. 6, 1937 2,175,388 Gurley Oct. 10,` 1939 2,181,554 Goldsmith Nov. 28, 1939 2,207,720 Cole et al. July 16, 1940- 2,220,889 Cole Nov. 12, 1940 2,266,194 Guanella Dec. 16, 1941 2,314,471 Wright Mar. 23, 1943 2,378,746 Beers June 19, 1945 2,402,083 Reid June 11, 1946 

